Packing a Punch . . . in the Powder Room!

My powder room, photo by Liz Glasgow

A guest bathroom or powder room present a great opportunity to really have some design fun. In a master bath that you’ll use day in and day out, you won’t want to take any big color risks that you’ll soon tire of. But for a guest bathroom, you can afford to be playful. 

I like a powder room to feel like a dramatic piece of jewelry, especially if it’s only used for guests. I choose beautiful jewel tones in paint or paper that I wouldn’t use anywhere else to make this small room feel unexpected and rich, elegant and special. A unique black-lacquered cabinet and interesting art adds to the drama of a powder room. 

And no jewel box would be complete with some sparkle--a jewel-like chandelier on the ceiling, or a really special mirror like this one I chose to complement the rich turquoise paint in my powder room. Special accessories make the room feel like a treasure.

North Shore Holiday House "Deck the Halls" House Tour

This holiday season, I am teaming up with the talented Patrick Ward of Outdoor Environments to "deck" my home and open up my doors for the 5th annual North Shore Holiday House "Deck the Halls" House Tour. The tour will be held on Thursday, December 2nd. Tickets are available at the "Deck the Halls" House Tour Web site. I am so happy to support this wonderful cause! 

The Sky's The Limit

One of the most overlooked--or maybe under-looked--areas in design is the ceiling. Adding an unexpected color or texture to the ceiling is a wonderful way to really add “wow” to a room. Last year on the New York Junior League Spring House Tour, one of my favorite featured homes was a Grammercy Park townhouse. It had a kitchen that seemed a bit ordinary--until I looked up! The ceiling was an incredible shade of hyacinth purple. Features in this room balanced its bold color, like a large scale geometric design painted on the wood floor, and art that subtly incorporated the vibrant color, so it wasn’t entirely unexpected. Since the tour, I’ve seen this very room featured in House Beautiful and Good Housekeeping magazines! 

Grammercy Park Townhouse in Better Homes Magazine

Recently, in re-designing my own living room, I also took full advantage of the ceiling real estate by papering the ceiling in a fantastic fuchsia vinyl. With a tiled horsehair effect, it’s also a real “wow,” especially with the show-stopping light fixture I chose. The walls and floor are soothing neutrals that won’t compete with the ceiling, but the color is called out and accented by the fabric and accessories in the room.  

My Own Living Room

Featured Fall Fabrics

Have you gotten your fall sweaters out? These adorable dogs have, and they’re decked out for autumn, just like your child’s room could be. I’m loving this fun fabric for fall. Here, I’ve paired it with some complimentary fabrics for a perfectly fantastic child’s room. The bright green of the dogs’ sweaters is picked up in the bright green linen fabric which would be wonderful in a window treatment. The wonderful geometric and scale of the black and white would make an amazing chair. And a fun tape always adds a level of details that increases the impact of any upholstered piece. Welcome fall!